Typing the title to this article brings to mind a particular image of a woman trapped in rubble following the earthquake in Haiti this past Tuesday. Even the most robust theology of sovereignty is put to the test as horrific events like this one unfold. Did God know? Could He have prevented this? Does He care? Is the answer to human suffering found in limiting God? My answer is no. God is not limited in ability, knowledge, or goodness. Still we want to know — why?
Processing catastrophe like this one is difficult for all of us. I find my thoughts going back to a simple phrase found in Romans 8.20, “in hope.” Paul has explained that because of the catastrophic entrance of sin, the world has now been subjected to futility. Later in this passage we see the world “groans and suffers.” (Rom 8.22) This world is full of futility and pain. It hurts. Earthquakes come. Hurricanes swirl. Tornadoes destroy. Work is hard. Sickness happens. People die. Life is tough. The question again is, why the futility? The answer is found in verse 20. “Creation was subjected to futility...in hope.” Who does things in hope? Not Satan, it is God Himself. We learn in verse 22 that these pains are like childbirth, they are necessary to bring about something beautiful. God has a plan for this futility.
God is using tragedy to produce a beautiful masterpiece. He is not taken aback by anything that happens. If you had a thousand years to live and unlimited resources, you could not improve on God’s plan. His purpose of glorifying Himself and making His name great will be accomplished (Is 46.10). How should we respond to realities like this? I will let Romans 8.23 have the final word: “...we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.”
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